Ji-Hee Lee won the 50th Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup on 10th September. It was held at Appi Kougen Golf Club (6,640 yard/par71), Hachimantai-City, Iwate. Total purse was ￥200million,and Ji-Hee Lee won a winner’s award￥36million.Ji-Hee Lee closed at total 5 under par to win for the first time this year. Min-Young Lee was 2nd at total 3 under par and by 1 shot was Hiroko Azuma.
"Her 3rd is the highest among all the Japanese players. Azuma opened a new field. “I’ve been worried so far. Today I worked like hell and did my best. The 3rd is the highest place this six years since I turned pro,” she concluded. She birdied on No 2 to go up to the top, but “three-consecutive-bogey came on my favorite second half,where I had birdied until yesterday. I used to give up easily but today, I was desperate.” Soon after that on No 15, she read the line left to right to sink a birdie putt."
For the 4th Inside Story,I have chosen Momoka Miyake among Rookie Campers. “I’m unknown. Is that fine?” first of all, she said. But she strongly impressed us with a bow tie at the final Qualifying Tournament (QT). “I love it very much and I really decided to put it on the final round. But I had mixed feelings to hear me called a comedian…” she sighed.
"Min-Young Lee(2nd:-3) “I thought I could make a mistake,or I had only to save a par, because this course setting was quite tough. I was near to win and so very nervous every time I shot. I had a good tempo and that led me to close under par. Winning for the third time probably God presents me in the near future. I’m very fun playing LPGA tournaments. I will try hard and I’m looking forward to winning.”"
The third round of the 50th Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup was held on 9th September at Appi Kougen Golf Club (6,640 yard/par71), Hachimantai-City, Iwate. It is Number–one in Asia who will win this tournament. Total purse is ￥200million,and winner’s prize ￥36million.
Ji-Hee Lee jumped up to co-leader. She has prepared for this tournament for more than six months. On No 9 she selected Hybrid Club(5) to hole a 175 yard second shot for eagle. If it had took place on the last hole, it had been a historic event of LPGA. “I couldn’t see due to elevated green .But distance was perfect. I’m happy.”
She looks distant to everyone. But it is her strong point, in particular when the prestigious tournament like this. “If I finish at 1 under par every round, I can remain in contention. It’s going well this time and I’m very content,” she said. After even par, she sank a 2 meters for birdie from left before on next No 17, and added 1 more on No 18 to jump in 3rd. “In the tough setting like this all I have to do is be patient. I’m never exploding golfer. I like rather waiting game,” she continued.
Golf,sometimes changes her life. Everyone knows that, but this is the different story.13 years pass away soon since Emi Godai worked part-time for the first time as a caddy in 2.008 LPGA Championship. She now is a member of Rookie Camp but then, was a student of Nippon Sports Science University. She was in charge of the tournament official of LPGA Championship,Kyoko Kadokawa.
The second round of the 50th Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup was held on 8th September at Appi Kougen Golf Club (6,640 yard/par71), Hachimantai-City, Iwate. It is Number–one in Asia who will win this tournament. Total purse is ￥200million,and winner’s prize ￥36million. Ah-Reum Hwang,Hiroko Azuma and Asuka Kashiwabara finished at total 4 under par to lead the second round. 4 Players including Rituko Ryu and Fumika Kawagishi were a stroke back at total 3 under par.The game is so close,and the third round starts on 8th.
This is her first time to make the cut as a tournament leader this year. She got confident about her golf again and loves these narrow fairways which scare even a top player. But her driving accuracy percentage is 2nd. “Only 2 times did I miss fairway. I’m focusing on driving and hitting with accurate. Yesterday’s rain made the green soft and I could hit straight to the pin. I played quite well. I’m now confident to make a good score in the official tournament,” She smiled.
Kashiwabara,the first round leader.saved her position on Friday.She played calmly how hard it was. “I tried to make a fresh start every time addressing. It is crucial if I miss the shot. Of course I don’t care my place in the tournament. I have only to focus on myself,” she said, She bogeyed first. “I bogeyed No1 and what’s more, it was 3 putts. No 3, what a waste. I can’t avoid such mistakes that making a fresh start soon is very crucial.”
Easier said than done. Yasuhito Endo, former national soccer player of Japan, often says “it is a fool who is saying ‘tomorrow I’ll do anything.’” After finishing her second day in Rookie Camp, Aya Tamura always says hello to every staff with a smile on her face.
The 50th Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup, started on 7th September at Appi Kougen Golf Club (6,640 yard/par71), Hachimantai-City, Iwate. It is Number–one in Asia who will win this tournament. Total purse is ￥200million,and winner’s prize ￥36million. The first round was suspended by sundown and 4 players couldn’t finish. Asuka Kashiwabara amd Yuki Ichinose finished at 4 under par to lead so far. By 1 shot were Ha-Neul Kim and Eri Okayama. Ai Suzuki,who has the opportunity to win twice in a row, was 2 under 5th .
Be strict with yourself, be kind to others, which is indispensable for professional. But sometimes it could bring some troubles to them. Icninose, who hasn’t been the leader long before, said in a little confusion, “I’ve never been here in official press conference for years. I can’t remember when the last time was,” she looked excited.“I feel bad lately. I changed my swing at CAT Ladies. Since then. I have been doing what I should do, even though I can’t get a good result. Today I eventually finished at under par. I can’t remember how I played today. That’s because I was concentrating on my work.”She has tenosynovitis in left thumb, which caused her slump these days. So today she tried to avoid adding pressure to the injury by changing her swing. “I would swing with both arms but now due to the pain I can’t. Today moving whole body I was swinging,”
His soul exists in his right index finger. The match is a moment. He is always wearing black, which is distinct. He is moving around the course like Ninja. “When working, I’m always black so that in the object’s eyes the color of my clothes wouldn’t be reflected. I never wear color of reflection to their eyes.” This is his work ethic.
Ha-Neul Kim was 3 under par 3rd(#at the time the first round was ended). “I tried too hard today as I had been doing really great until yesterday. This is the tough course and three rounds still remain. My target is one of the top 10.” Ai Suzuki was 2 under 5th (#). “I was a little off my putting today, in particular first half. I had a lot of putts lip out. It was so frustrating. But some holes I was able to save par. I played well rather than not bad. I was so patient. I could make a lower score tomorrow.”
The Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup, the memorial tournament for the 50th anniversary of the founding of LPGA, starts on 7th September at Appi Kougen Golf Club (6,640 yard/par71), Hachimantai-City, Iwate. Total purse is ￥200million,and winner’s prize ￥36million. On Wednesday 6th, LPGA players played in a pro-am, and official press conference was held there.
She turned pro 5 year ago and is always getting better. She now has an aura of a real top player. ”This year is another. It is the most expensive winner’s prize that attracts me most this year, for I could go up to the top of money list,” she said calmly. She really has prepared for this tournament. “My driver had felt a little bad until last week, but now it is fine. I probably could miss fairways about 3 or 4 times a round. I won’t try too hard in the rough. I will always think on it.”
There are ups and downs in life. That is usual in the game. She is setting to three consecutive win of official tournaments. “My condition is 100 percent.” She said full of confidence. She suffered from a right shoulder ache last week and retired in a pro-am, which she didn’t expect at all. “In fact,” she continued, “It was because I twisted my neck while asleep, due to too soft a bed in the hotel and later, it spread over both shoulders.” Now it got well as a result of a medical treatment. It would be the problem if a week later.
LPGA organizes Rookie Camp, in which rookie players learn management of the tournament working with volunteers and LPGA staff, and young rookies come to fit into the responsibilities of adult life. It was added this year how to get along with customers in a pro-am.On Wednesday 28 rookies including Minami Katsu took part in this lesson.
